Irving Fishman, a Democrat who served in the Massachusetts House and Senate, was a pioneering public voice against the war among the Commonwealth’s elected officials.

“I think Irving had national impact, because he was one of the first elected officials to come out against the war in Vietnam,” said David B. Cohen, who formerly was Newton’s mayor and a longtime state representative. “When he won reelection overwhelmingly, I think it showed officeholders across the country that you could take a principled stand against the Vietnam War, and that would resonate with voters.”

Mr. Fishman, who also was a jazz musician, lawyer, and real estate developer, died Jan. 4. He was 92, and after living in Newton divided his time between Weston and Palm Beach, Fla.